Cooper Franklin continues strong start with notable win to close Class 1A No. 2 Alburnett’s 38-22 dual win over No. 3 Wilton

ALBURNETT – Cooper Franklin didn’t lack confidence.

No opponent is too tough and no challenge is too great in the Alburnett sophomore’s mind. He has parlayed that approach into three wins over ranked foes already this season.

“It's what I always think,” said Franklin, a 138-pounder who is ranked sixth at 150 pounds by iawrestle.com. “I always come into matches thinking about winning. Losing is really never on my mind. Just come in and wrestle tough. That is kind of just my mentality.”

The power of positive thinking manifested into another big win. Franklin bested No. 2-ranked Gabriel Brisker, 5-0, and put the final touches on No. 2 Alburnett’s 38-22 victory over No. 3 Wilton Tuesday night in a battle of top Class 1A programs. The Pirates won eight matches, including five with bonus points.

“They're gritty,” Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. “I know (Wilton) has some adversity, too, but we have some adversity on our own team. Regardless of what it is, they don't let that sidetrack them. They just do the task at hand and they do it well.”

Franklin has posted a strong start to the season, notching wins over Clear Creek Amana’s Nolan Howell, ranked No. 4 at 144 in 3A, Solon’s Jordan Schmidt, who’s third at 144 in 2A and now Brisker at 138.

“With what our weigh-in sheet and their weigh-in sheet told me there were thoughts about bumping,” Rush said. “It wasn't really a question for me, because I wanted that match and he wanted that match.”

Franklin and Brisker were scoreless through one period and almost the entirety of the second. Franklin, who chose down to start the middle frame, was awarded an escape as time expired. The short-time score was a boost for the final two minutes.

“It was huge,” Franklin said. “It really gave me a lot of momentum going into that third period. I was just thinking that keep down and I win the match.”

Franklin added nearfall in the third, slipping in a half-nelson and turning Brisker for four points. He closed with the ride out for a shutout.

“He was working up right away, so I knew I had I had to get him back to the mat somehow, and I just kind of slapped a half in right there, wrestled a little bit, found that wrist,” Franklin said. “I just started working from there.”

Franklin improved to 7-2 overall, finishing fifth at the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational Saturday. There are more tests ahead to prepare for, so he planned to go right back to work in the Pirates wrestling room.

“There's still a lot of stuff to do,” Franklin said. “It's just early in the season. I'm sure we'll see them again later in the year, so I’ve got to stay ready, stay mentally prepared every day. Just working hard.”

Alburnett (2-0) jumped to an 18-0 lead after three matches and never trailed. Reece Klostermann (150) and Dawson Becker at 157 posted back-to-back pins after Preston Klostermann received a forfeit to open the dual at 144.

Becker was thrown to his back in the first and battled back to tie the match at 10 apiece. Becker put Hayden Hill on his back and recorded the fall in 5:29.

Eaghan Fleshman scored four takedowns in a 12-9 decision over Gatlin Rogers at 215. The Beavers answered with four wins in the next five weights, including a pin from Liam Adlfinger (120) and a pin from Mason Shirk at 126, to pull within 32-23 with two matches remaining.

Tayten Coufal (132) secured the Pirates’ dual win with a 6-1 win over Owen Adlfinger, setting up Franklin’s finale.

Both teams were missing starters. Alburnett state champion Rowdy Neighbor (126) was not in the lineup due to illness and third-ranked 113-pounder Atlee Dewitt also did not compete.

“Anytime you have guys like that with experience that aren't here, it hurts you just because their presence is strong,” Rush said. “But we've got guys.”

This dual will be a conference contest next season. According to Alburnett Activities Director Nick Wooldrik after the dual, the Pirates have been accepted and the move approved to leave the Tri-Rivers Conference and join the River Valley Conference for the 2025-26 school year.

Rush called the change exciting and it allows for more battles with the Beavers.

“We'll see them a couple more times,” Rush said. “I reached out to them and asked if they wanted to dual early, and there was there was no hesitation.

“So, when you can get two teams like this, I just don't feel like it happens that often. In what 1A gym does this happen. When you have two teams like we have, it's just fun. It's fun for the kids to be able to go out and battle and be under a spotlight and play some music. It's it just makes it fun.”

AT ALBURNETT

Alburnett 38*, Wilton 22**

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

144 pounds - Preston Klostermann (A) won by forfeit; 150 - Reece Klostermann (A) pinned Jensen Boorn, 2:32 (1,0); 157 - Dawson Becker (A) pinned Hayden Hill, 5:29 (0,2); 165 - Owen Milder (W) dec. Hunter Sauer, 6-4 (1,1); 175 - Shayden Washburn (A) won by forfeit; 190 - Clay Ledger (W) dec. River Williams, 11-5 (3,1); 215 - Eaghan Fleshman (A) dec. Gatlin Rogers, 12-9 (4,1); Hwt. - Francisco Honts (W) dec. Sevy Redel, 1-0 (0,0); 106 - Landon Howe (A) won by forfeit; 113 - Romann Derksen (W) dec. Jaxson Port, 12-6 (2,1); 120 - Liam Adlfinger (W) pinned Owen Henriksen, 3:48 (2,0); 126 - Mason Shirk (W) tech. fall Clayton Strang, 22-5 (5,1); 132 - Tayten Coufal (A) dec. Owen Adlfinger, 6-1 (1,0); 138 - Cooper Franklin (A) dec. Gabriel Brisker, 5-0 (0,0)

* - Alburnett was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the 215-pound match.

** - Wilton was deducted a team point during the 138-point match.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - Wilton 16, Alburnett 10. Reversals - Wilton 2, Alburnett 3. Escapes - Wilton 14, Alburnett 7. Nearfall points - Wilton 11, Alburnett 17. Penalty points (awarded) - Wilton 2, Alburnett 2. Total match points - Wilton 79, Alburnett 62.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com